REHABILITATION OF CRIMINALS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26856, 8 October 1952, Page 11

REHABILITATION OF CRIMINALS

TRAINED STAFF HELD ESSENTIAL PENOLOGIST ADDRESSES WOMEN’S CONFERENCE (Ntw Ztaland Press Association) PARAPARAUMU, October 7. The job at remodelling human life could not be done by untrained pereone. and the aupport of the public and proper facilities were euential, eaid an American penologist, Profewor Albert Morri*, to the National Council of Women today. Accompanied by the New Zealand Secretary of Juttice (Mr S. T. Barnett), Professor Morris broke his journey to Auckland, from where he is leaving New Zealand today. It was better to allow limited freedom before the end of a sentence than to exercise strict supervision all the tjme, which gave the offender no chance to acquire self-reliance, he Baid. If people escaped from semiopen inititutions, they could be more readily brought back under control. One of the most important things to de bone in reducing crime was to prepare young people more adequately for marriage and provide young married people with adequate counselling and guidance services. He agreed that religious leaders had a responsibility to encourage young people in the finest ideals, but if they were going to assume responsiability for counselling on marital problems they should “supplement their religious drives with specific training in the field in which they are going to operate.” “I get worried about people who have a lot of religion and no sociology,” said Professor Morris.